Dr. James T. Callow publications
Browse by
Questions or comments on this site? Please email davidsor@udmercy.edu.
The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for EUPHEMISM returned 99 results.
PROVERB
CONFUCIUS SAY: BUTCHER WHO BACK INTO MEAT GRINDER GET LITTLE
BEHIND IN HIS WORK.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
Keyword(s): PUN
James Callow Keyword(s): EUPHEMISM ; PARODY ; PUN
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IN THE OLDEN DAYS IT WAS BELIEVED BY THE YOUNG THAT THE
DOCTOR BROUGHT THE BABIES IN A LITTLE BLACK BAG.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): EUPHEMISM ; PREGNANCY WITHOUT SEXUAL INTERCOURSE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 10-12-1971
BELIEF
STORKS CARRY BABIES TO THEIR PARENTS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN ; MICHIGAN HEIGHTS
James Callow Keyword(s): EUPHEMISM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 10-01-1968
CUSTOM DEATH
PUSHING UP DAISIES
SOMETIMES YOU REFER TO DYING AS PUSHING UP DAISIES.
Where learned: SCHOOL ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT CAMPUS, ASSUMED
James Callow Keyword(s): EUPHEMISM ; PLANT ; SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase |
Date learned: 03-05-1968
THE FOLLOWING IS RECALLED FROM THE RESPONDENT'S CHILDHOOD ALTHOUGH
THE EXACT SOURCE LEARNED FROM IS NOT REMEMBERED:
THE "MITTEN" SHAPE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN WAS FORMED IN THE FINAL
STAGES OF GOD'S FORMATION OF THE PLANET. AFTER THE CREATOR WAS
THROUGH IN FORMING THE EARTH, HE PLACED HIS HAND ON THE SPHERES
SURFACE IN ORDER TO EXAMINE HIS WORK. WHEN THE HAND OF GOD WAS
REMOVED IT LEFT AN IMPRESSION AND RESULTED IN THE STATE'S SHAPE AND
DIMENSIONS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): EUPHEMISM
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Creator B220.438 PROSE NARRATIVE -- Formation |
THE FOLLOWING IS A FLIM-FLAM TECHNIQUE ONE STUDENT USES TO GET INTO
SOLD OUT EVENTS SUCH AS CONCERTS OR ATHLETIC CONTESTS: THE CORNER OF
A TWENTY DOLLAR BILL IS CUT OFF AND CAREFULLY ATTACHED BY SOME SORT
OF GLUE TO THE CORNER OF A ONE DOLLAR BILL. THE CURENCY IS THEN
FOLDED FOUR OR FIVE TIMES SO THAT JUST THE CORNER SHOWING THE $20
IS EXPOSED. THIS "TWENTY" IS OFFERED TO THE TICKET TAKER WHO-BECAUSE
HE DOES NOT WANT TO CALL ATTENTION TO HIMSELF-USUALLY POCKETS THE
BILL QUICKLY WITHOUT CAREFUL EXAMINATION. THE STUDENT THEN SCAMPERS
INTO THE STADIUM OR ARENA TO SEE THE SCHEDULED EVENT AT BARGAIN
PRICES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): DISHONESTY ; EUPHEMISM
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Outlaw Criminal Bandit Pirate CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: 10-00-1975
THE FOLLOWING VERSE WAS USED AS A TEASE BY SCHOOL CHILDREN:
"(NAME OF BOY) AND (NAME OF GIRL)
SITTING IN A TREE
K-I-S-S-I-N-G
FIST COMES LOVE
THEN COMES MARRIAGE
THEN COMES (NAME OF BOY OR GIRL) WITH A BABY CARRIAGE."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): EUPHEMISM ; IRREGULAR RHYME ; METONYMY ; OBSERVATION
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
Date learned: 10-00-1975
THREE LITTLE DEVILS
THREE LITTLE DEVILS ALL DRESSED IN RED
TRIED TO GET TO HEAVEN ON THE END OF A THREAD
BUT THE THREAD STRING BROKE AND DOWN THEY ALL FELL
INSTEAD OF GOING TO HEAVEN THEY WENT TO....
REPEAT: TWO LITTLE DEVILS
USING: AND THEN ONE LITTLE DEVIL
ONE LITTLE DEVIL ALL DRESSED IN RED
TRIED TO GET TO HEAVEN ON THE END OF A THREAD
BUT THE THREAD STRING BROKE AND DOWN HE FELL
INSTEAD OF GOING TO HEAVEN HE WENT TO.....
DON'T GET DISCOURAGED, DON'T GET DISMAYED
INSTEAD OF GOING TO HEAVEN THEY
ALL WENT TO BED.
Submitter comment: ( LEARNED IN: DETROIT CHILDHOOD )
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ELLIPSIS EUPHEMISM ; HELL
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Good humor Jest Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Date learned: 00-00-1958
WATERMELON
YOU CAN TALK ABOUT YOUR APPLES, YOUR PEACHES AND YOUR PEARS,
YOUR CINNAMON HANGIHG ON YOUR CINNAMON TREE, ON THE TREE,
BUT GIVE ME, OH GIVE ME, I REALLY WISH YOU WOULD
SOME OF THAT WATERMELON HANGING ON THE VINE.
CHORUS:
HAMBONE IS SWEET ( SLURP ), CHICKEN IS GOOD ( M
),
POSSUM MEAT IS VERY, VERY FINE, AIN'T IT SO,
BUT GIVE ME, OH GIVE ME, I REALLY WISH YOU WOULD
SOME OF THAT WATERMELON HANGING ON THE VINE.
THE NIGHT I WENT TO FETCH IT WAS ON A STORMY NIGHT.
THE MOON HAD NOT AS YET BEGUN TO SHINE, BEGUN TO SHINE.
THE FARMER, HE SAW ME AND SHOT ME THROUGH THE FENCE
BUT I NEVER LEFT THAT MELON ON THE VINE.
CHORUS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Daily Life |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR.
PARODY OF "BATTLE HYMN OF THE REPUBLIC"
GLORY GLORY HALLELUJAH
TEACHER HIT ME WITH A RULER
I MET HER AT THE DOOR
WITH MY TRUSTY FORTY-FOUR
AND THERE AIN'T NO TEACHER ANYMORE.
Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK
Keyword(s): ANTI-TEACHER ; EUPHEMISM
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ill humor Ridicule Mockery Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORED BY COLLECTOR.
CHILDREN'S SONGS
CHORUS: FUZZY WUZZY WAS A GUY.
LOOKED LIKE A HAWK WITH AN EAGLE'S EYE.
FOOLING PEOPLE WAS HIS NAME.
FUZZY WUZZY WAS THE OLD GUY'S NAME.
1ST VERSE: OLD KING COLE WAS A MERRY OLD SOLE.
TRIED TO GET TO HEAVEN ON A TELEPHONE POLE.
TRIED TO GET TO HEAVEN ON A TELEPHONE POLE.
ONE FOOT SLIPPED; THE OTHER ONE FELL.
INSTEAD OF GOING TO HEAVEN HE WENT TO HELL.
CHORUS
2ND VERSE: FUZZY WUZZY HAD BIG FEET.
SPREAD ALL OVER MARKET STREET.
MARKET STREET WAS MADE OF GLASS
FUZZY WUZZY FELL DOWN AND BROKE HIS . . .
CHORUS
3RD VERSE: WAY DOWN YONDER WHERE THE GRASS GROWS GREEN.
FROG JUMPED INTO A SEWING MACHINE.
SEWING MACHINE WAS GOING SO FAST
NINETY-NINE STICHES UP HIS . . .
CHORUS
Where learned: MICHIGAN
Keyword(s): CACOGRAPHY: SOLE FOR SOUL ; ELLIPSIS ; EUPHEMISM FOR ASS ; METONYMY: SOUL OR SOLE FOR ENTIRE PERSON, BODY, ETC.
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Date learned: 00-00-1967
CROCODILE SONG
THEY SAILED A WAY A SUNNY SUMMER DAY
ON THE BACK OF A CROCODILE.
" YOU SEE, " SAID SHE, " HE'S AS TAME AS HE CAN BE
I'LL FLOAT HIM DOWN THE NILE. "
THE CROCK WINKED HIS EYE AS SHE WAVED THEM ALL GOOD-BYE
WEARING A HAPPY SMILE.
AT THE END OF THE RIDE, THE LADY WAS INSIDE AND THE
SMILE ON THE CROCODILE.
Submitter comment: SONG WHICH IS SUNG BY MANY SMALL CHILDREN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): EUPHEMISM, INDIRECTION
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ballad Epic Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Good humor Jest Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR.
KNOCK KNOCK JOKE
KNOCK KNOCK
WHO'S THERE?
MADAM
MADAM WHO?
MADAM FOOT'S CAUGHT IN THE DOOR.
Submitter comment: DIANE LEARNED THIS FROM GIRL FRIENDS IN PITTSBURGH, PA.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
Keyword(s): EUPHEMISM
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 11-00-1967
Entry filtered.
PROVERB: CAT
HAPPY AS A CAT IN A CREAMERY.
Submitter comment:
USED TO DENOTE EXTREME HAPPINESS OF A PERSON OR ANIMAL IN A GIVEN
CIRCUMSTANCE.
INFORMANT USED THIS WHEN HE SAW HIS SECRETARY WAS VERY HAPPY. HE
LEARNED WHEN HE WAS A CHILD.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; WESTLAND ; TOLD AT
Keyword(s): EUPHEMISM
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
Date learned: 11-01-1971
FOUR SHEETS IN THE WIND.
HE WAS FOUR SHEETS IN THE WIND.
IN REFERENCE TO ONE WHO WAS SLIGHTLY INEBRIATED.
Submitter comment: HEARD SAID BY DORA ENGLAND, MY BROTHER'S ELDERLY MOTHER IN LAW.
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
Entry filtered.
BIRDIE IN THE SKY
BIRDIE, BIRDIE IN THE SKY
DROPPED SOME WHITE WASH IN MY EYE
I'M NOT A SISSY, I DON'T CRY
I'M JUST GLAD THAT COWS DON'T FLY.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED IT FROM HER MOTHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ANIMALS ; EUPHEMISM: WHITEWASH FOR BIRD DUNG ; RHYME: AAAA
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Good humor Jest |
Date learned: 07-00-1964
LIMERICK
THERE WAS A YOUNG MAN FROM THE CITY,
WHO SAW A NICE BLACK AND WHITE KITTY
SAYING, "MICE LITTLE CAT,"
HE GAVE IT A PAT.
THEY BURIED HIS CLOTHES OUT OF PITY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ANIMALS ; EUPHEMISM: CAT FOR SKUNK ; FEMININE RHYME ; HUMOR ; INDIRECTION ; RHYME: AABBA ; SMELLY CLOTHERS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR.
COMMON DENONINATOR
NO MATTER HOW HIGH AND GREAT THE THRONE
WHAT SITS ON THE SEAT IS THE SAME AS YOUR OWN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): EUPHEMISM FOR BUTTOCKS ; HUMILITY ; OBSERVATION ; RHYME:AA
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse |
Date learned: 11-14-1968